The Regional Government has approved the Bill to Boost and Promote Organic Production and other certified agricultural, fishing, and aquaculture productions in Andalusia, which will now be forwarded to the Andalusian Parliament for processing. The ultimate goal of this law is to contribute to a more sustainable and balanced development of Andalusia by promoting the growth of domestic consumption of these foods to align demand with the current Andalusian supply.
Furthermore, the law also aims to strengthen the leading position that the region currently holds. Andalusia is a reference in Organic Production with more than 21,500 operators and around 1.5 million hectares where this model is applied, representing 50% of Spain’s organic extension. Another example of Andalusia’s commitment to sustainability certification is the implementation of Integrated Production systems, covering approximately 433,000 hectares and involving around 45,000 producers in the region.
In fact, another goal of the new Andalusian law is to emphasize the compatibility and coexistence of Organic Production with other existing certified sustainable models. Certified production is understood as that which, supported by the Administration and assessed by external entities in accordance with the Andalusian Agri-Food Quality Law, has accredited compliance with more demanding sustainable practices regulations than national and European standards.
Among the initiatives included in the law is the prioritization of these foods in contracts signed by public administrations related to hospitality, catering, and food services. This includes food supply contracts for educational, health, and social care centers. Likewise, the law stipulates that the Andalusian Government should promote Organic Production in the agricultural and forestry areas of the region, as well as include specific actions for organic foods in the promotion plans of Andalusian agri-food production.
Regarding support, the Bill includes prioritizing applicants with certified productions and aims to announce grants to support promotional activities of organic foods at sales points. Additionally, the law also highlights the importance of the Andalusian Government promoting the promotion of certified products in the Horeca channel (hospitality, catering, and food services) and their participation in professional fairs.
Moreover, it establishes the creation of the ‘Andalusian Organic Production Award’ to recognize individuals or companies for their activities in technical, business, industrial, commercial, or research fields; and advocates for boosting the direct sale of these foods on farms and markets through the creation of an Andalusian Network of Municipalities with Local Organic Markets. Additionally, the law suggests applying a 50% discount on optional veterinary services fees for organic livestock farms.
A specific section is dedicated to research, innovation, consultancy, and knowledge transfer, which also refers to training related to certified productions. This section involves universities and technological centers in Andalusia and mentions the conservation of native livestock breeds as a specific merit to be considered in the awarding of aid related to these production systems.
Andalusian Organic Production
The area of Andalusian Organic Production has been experiencing a positive trend in recent years, with a 50% increase since 2017. Overall, the most prominent areas are Andalusian organic pastures, followed by olive groves, which account for 9% of the total area of Organic Production in Andalusia; cereals, legumes, and industrial crops, together representing 7%; and nuts, which also make up 7% of Andalusia’s area under this model. In terms of cultivated agricultural land, the region has 475,000 hectares mainly dedicated to olive groves (28% of the area), nuts (24%), and industrial crops and cereals, including rice (21%).
As for livestock, the region has 6,200 organic farms, accounting for 58% of the national total. Notably, beef cattle dominate, accounting for over half of Andalusia’s organic farms. In second place are sheep meat farms (34%), followed by goat meat farms (7%). The Andalusian organic agri-industrial sector comprises a total of 3,353 industrial activities and 986 processors.
In terms of the area under Integrated Production techniques, the majority in Andalusia is dedicated to olive groves. Specifically, olives cover about 75% of the over 430,000 hectares in Andalusia. They are followed by cotton (8.8%), rice (5.4%), protected horticultural crops (2.8%), and sugar beet (1.4%).
The rice production stands out for its high adoption of Integrated Production. In fact, almost 99% of the cultivated rice area in Andalusia follows these production systems. The percentage is close to 80% for cotton and red fruits; it reaches nearly 65% for sugar beet; and exceeds 60% for tomato crops for processing.